Gunshots were fired by the police in Minna, Niger State, to disperse residents protesting against the increasing cost of living.
Around 7 am on Monday, a group of women blocked Minna-Bida Road at Kpakungu roundabout to voice their concerns over rising food prices. Men later joined, halting traffic.
Police attempts to control the crowd led to tension, with protesters demanding the police leave, resulting in the firing of several shots into the air.
One youth, Ibrahim Gana, mentioned that rice was being sold for N2,000 per mudu at Minna markets, and maize for N1,000 per measure.
He urged the Federal Government to intervene, emphasizing the unbearable hardships faced by poor Nigerians.
The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, was unreachable at the time of filing the report.
The nationwide concerns over escalating prices of essential items such as rice, flour, sugar, and cement.
Investigations in Kano, Kwara, Ebonyi, Oyo, Lagos states, and Abuja revealed challenging circumstances for various groups, with some resorting to prayers and others calling on the government to implement control measures.
A bag of cement, priced at N5,500 at the beginning of January 2024, had risen to N7,300 by Thursday.
Malam Shehu Usman, a civil servant and father of five, expressed bewilderment at the current situation, describing the price hikes as requiring divine intervention.
He highlighted the staggering increase of N10,300 within 30 days on a 50kg bag of rice, emphasizing the struggle many households face to afford three meals a day.
“We have to turn to God and seek his forgiveness, because what is happening goes beyond human explanation. Imagine an increase of N10, 300 within 30 days on a 50kg bag of rice and no one is saying anything?
Another resident, Isah Bello, expressed concern about how people would cope during Ramadan when Muslims observe fasting.
He stressed the urgency for authorities to take necessary actions before the situation escalates further.
